Tuesday

The future stars of your favorite high school team will hit the field this week. All four Cleveland County Middle School football teams take the field this week for the 2018 season.

Led by head coach and Crest alumnus Robert Melton and assistant coaches Russell Hamrick, Mark Sterious, Steven Hodge, Dalton Cochran, Chris Melton, and Marquiet Pettis, Crest Middle School is looking to repeat the success the team had in 2017.

Last year’s team finished the season undefeated and won the Tri-County Championship.

Coaches will be looking to three returning starters from the 2017 team, eighth-graders DaVonye Pettis, Jakari Geter and Tavarious Littlejohn to lead the team. All three players have experience on both sides of the ball, splitting time between running back and linebacker while Littlejohn plays offense and defensive lines.

Other key players for this year’s team will be Kwon Norris at running back and linebacker,Tylik Briscoe on the defensive line, Jackson Pence at wide receiver and defensive back, James Pribble on offensive and defensive lines, and CJ Young at linebacker and on the defensive line.

On the other end of the county, Kings Mountain will be looking to improve on their second place, 5-3 season in 2017.

Led by coaches Tim Gunn, Wilder Clark, Rodney Brown, John Grellman and Diron Bell, this year’s team will only see three of its key starters from last year return, Caleb Holland, Jake Llyod and Colby Carroll to the field.

Led by an eight-player core of eighth graders, the Shelby Blue Devils looked strong last week against Burns during a scrimmage at Crest High school.

That core – comprised of fullbacks Tyler Boyce, Daylin Lee and Jahmarre house, quarterback Lamont Littlejohn, tight end T.J. Griffin, center Jackie Ross and split end and quarterback Parker Dixon – is aiming for a second winning season after going 4-2 in 2017.

Crest will begin its season against Lincolnton in Lincolnton, then travel to Lawndale next week to face Burns in the Eagles’ season opener. Shelby will start its season on the road at Northview in Hickory. Kings Mountain will be off this week and will open its season against Shelby in Kings Mountain.

Middle school football games are played on Wednesdays. Each team’s schedule can be found online on each school’s website.

Burns didn't return preseason information for the 2018 season.

Dustin George can be reached at 704-669-3337 or Dustin.George@ShelbyStar.com. Find him on Twitter @DustinatTheStar.

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